STANDOFF — A musk ox stands his ground as the landfill manager tries to herd the animal out of the Nome Landfill on the Beam Road, on Monday, Sept 22 . Photo by Nils Hahn C VOLUME CXIV NO. 39 September 25, 2014 Regional leaders discuss impacts of increased shipping By Diana Haecker for cargo ships and tankers to trans- coastal Alaskans. More maritime “There is one story that is not told in titled “Bering Strait Voices on Ship- Tribal and municipal leaders from port goods from Asia to Europe or traffic could bring negative impacts the context of climate change: It’s ping” last week. the Bering Strait region gathered last vice versa. to coastal villages that depend on the the story of the Native people living The event was organized by Kaw- week in Nome to begin the process Traffic heading to or from the Arc- health of the sea, land and air to sup- in the Arctic,” Bahnke said. erak Inc. and was funded by the Pew of devising a plan that will put the tic Oceans, be it via the Northwest port the animals hunted for subsis- As climate change impacts land, Charitable Trust and the Oak Foun- Bering Strait region in a better posi- Passage or the Northern Sea Route, tence. air and sea, ice-dependent animals dation, who helped to bring together tion to actively cope with the in- would have to pass the narrow Kawerak Inc. President Melanie like polar bears, seals and walruses- regional leaders. crease in maritime traffic. Bering Strait, which also is a major Bahnke recently stood before a gath- most conversations deal with the The gathering’s purpose was to Climate change-driven melting of highway for marine mammal migra- ering of national journalists covering health and integrity of the environ- begin the process of building a re- the summer sea ice in the Arctic re- tions. environmental issues, bringing to ment and do not take into account gional plan for proactive stewardship gions opens up shipping routes that Those whales, seals, walruses and their awareness one very important that people still rely on the wild food of the marine environment. The could mean immense cost savings wild birds are food sources for aspect that is often overlooked. supply that nature offers. gathering was held on Sept. 16 and “I don’t want us to become an en- dangered species,” Bahnke said in continued on page 5 her opening speech at the gathering Planning panel hands Council a revised parking ordinance By Sandra L. Medearis or street parking places do not count The Nome Planning Commission toward the number of off street park- has taken in hand a plan to grapple ing places needed. with the mish-mash parking prac- However, the regulations do not tices that clutter the roadsides with apply to any building immediately vehicles. adjacent to the following “down- At its regular meeting Sept. 16, town” state streets: Front Street from the panel voted unanimously to pass Campbell Way to Bering Street; a revised parking ordinance along Bering Street from Front Street to with new regulations for off-street West Fifth Avenue; Seppala Drive parking to the Nome Common from Bering Street to West F Street. Council for that group’s comments Here are some of the require- and adoption. ments pertaining to new building The planners spent months to ad- construction, expansions or change dress the public safety needs for off in use to be spelled out at the time street parking to clear roadways on building permits are pulled: Nome’s city streets. For single dwelling units, two pri- The proposed document repeals vate parking spaces for each several existing ordinances and com- dwelling unit. bines them under a single ordinance For duplexes or more units, one addressing parking requirements for and one-half spaces for each Photo by Janeen Sullivan buildings, businesses and dwellings. dwelling unit. DEFENSE— Nome-Beltz volleyball players Allaryce Agloinga and Jane Tidwell are set up to block at No one spoke at the public hear- For bed and breakfast homes, one the net while Renee Merchant is ready for a tipped ball during the West Spiketacular Volleyball Tour- ing on the parking plan. space for each three guest rooms nament held at West High School in Anchorage on September 19 – 20. See story and photos on page 10. The proposal states the standard plus the number of spaces for the number of off street parking spaces dwelling units. required for all uses in all zoning dis- Buildings other than dwellings: tricts. In most cases, public parking continued on page 4 Criminals attempt to torch former hospital complex By Sandra L. Medearis checked the premises on Sunday, through the clinic, through the inpa- Vandals have applied consider- Sept. 14. tient acute care area, and up the stairs able destructive efforts to the old Gribben and police found paper and through the office area to carry Norton Sound Regional Hospital, towels rolled through the halls up- the fire.” but did not succeed in attempts to stairs and down in both the old and Nome Police Dept. dispatch staff burn down the complex. newer sections of the buildings along said Monday that they have no sus- One of the owners, Jim Gribben, with reams of pages from manuals pects, but there is an ongoing inves- discovered the mess when he and loose-leaf notebooks. tigation. The criminals had attempted to Gribben is offering a reward for fire off the towels at intervals along anyone coming forward to give po- the halls. lice information leading to the arrest On the Web: Although most of the trashing has and conviction of the culprits. www.nomenugget.net been cleaned up last week, evidence A tour of the vacant buildings of fire starts still mark the carpets, Monday showed wires hanging E-mail: which Gribben said are flame retar- down from big holes in the ceilings [email protected] dant. where vandals had ripped out electric “I think they were trying to burn “EXIT” signs and security cameras. down the whole complex, with a The vandals bashed glass out of very intentional domino effect,” office doors and removed glass half- Gribben said. “They found cases of walls and windows enclosing a pa- towel rolls, cases of paper, cases of tient benefits screening office. Photo by Sandra L. Medearis new file folders and spread them me- They broke mirrors and alarm SMASHED WALLS—The former Norton Sound Regional Hospital at thodically through all the halls, continued on page 4 Fifth Avenue and Bering Streets was vandalized last week. The estimated $50,000 rampage was discovered on Sept. 14. 2 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Letters Dear Editor: at first glance – the invisible prop- fight! power and prestige with the passing nation of ours, her flag, and most of Thoughts on our flag! erties that make up the intrinsic con- Politicians will come and go, and of time, but with our vigilance, and all what we truly stand for, will re- To truly respect our country, you tent and value of Old Glory herself. political parties may gain or wane in the help of the almighty himself, this main eternal! must first understand and respect its This is not just any flag after all, it symbolism as well. And towering is our flag! It is a member of our high above all of these proud and family, it is a portion of our heritage, battle-tested icons of democracy, and it is what defines our very must be hoisted our nation’s flag! being! Let no man or nation ever The problem is that far too many make light of it, or attempt to cast it High-lites from Nome-Beltz of our people, politicians included, asunder! For in doing so, they also now take for granted that which was belittle all that this flag truly stands Harlan Heinrich, Principal had representatives from Norton Sound health Corpora- paid for in the blood, sweat, tears, for, and that my friends, is your life This past month has brought a number of opportunities tion, Public Health Center, and Nome Community Cen- and toil of generations of patriots! and liberty itself! for the community and parents to engage with student ter conduct screenings of our students and staff. These “Worse yet are those who go Again, this is your flag – treat it and school related activities. screenings were in the following areas; vision, hearing, through the motions without know- with respect, love, and dedication. Our open house on September 10 went very well. We tuberculosis, and Body Mass Index (BMI). There were ing the reasons why, or those who And most of all, treat it as you had a very nice showing of parents and community mem- also a number of displays set up by representatives from show but outward respect alone, but would a beloved member of your bers who came by and visited with our teachers and staff. Healthy Start, CAMP, Nome Community Center and who fail to feel what it really means family. This flag stands behind you, On Saturday September 13 Nome-Beltz hosted a cross Nome Public Health Center. to be a proud and dedicated citizen and helped to protect you and your country track meet in which athletes from Koyuk, Teller, It’s been a busy month and we at Nome-Beltz would of this great nation of ours? ancestors ever since our impossible Golovin, Kotzebue and Nome competed in this annual be remiss if we failed to recognize the parent and com- I have noticed that many people, dream first became a reality.